Aruba
Geography:
- Location:
- Island in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea, near the Paraguaná Peninsula of Venezuela; and integral part of the Netherlands. In 1986 Aruba separated from The Netherlands Antilles and has received a status apart within the Kingdom of Holland.
- Area:
- Total: 193 sq km
- Water: 0 sq km
- Land: 193 sq km
- Maritime Claims:
- Coastline: 68.5 km
- Territorial sea: 12 NM
- Natural Resources:
- NEGL; white sandy beaches
People:
- Population: 70,844 (July 2003 est.)
- Nationality: Noun: Aruban(s); Adjective: Aruban; Dutch
- Ethnic groups: mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%
- Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
- Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Government:
- Country name: Aruba (conventional short form)
- Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
- Government type: parliamentary democracy
- Capital: Oranjestad
- Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
- International organization participation: Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate)
Economy:
- Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.2% (2002 est.)
- Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
- Agriculture - products: aloes; livestock; fish
- Exports: $1.88 billion f.o.b. (including oil reexports) (2002 est.)
- Exports - commodities: live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment
- Imports: $2.21 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
- Imports - commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs
- Currency: Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)
Institutional Structure:
National Focal Point for IOCARIBE
- Mr Marck Oduber
- Director Meteorological Department
- Ministry of Tourism Transportation & Labour
- Sabana Berne 73-B, Aruba
- Tel: (297) 5826497 Fax: (297) 5837328
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For updated information about Aruba visit their Central Intelligence Agency Factsheet.